Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Burwood
2 km²
A high-density hub of international diversity, Burwood is among the most multicultural and highly educated areas in its class. The community is noticeably young, with a typical resident aged just 31 and a huge proportion of the population born overseas. This international character is reflected in the streets, where Mandarin is the most common language. The area is a walkable, transit-oriented center where most people live in apartments and rely on public transport rather than cars.
Burwood's schools draw a more advantaged community than the area overall.
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This is a young community where the typical resident is 31, far younger than the national figure of 38. Children under 15 and seniors are both well below state and national levels, while young adults aged 25 to 44 make up 42.7% of the population.
Burwood is shaped by immense overseas migration, with 70.9% of people born abroad—far above the national figure of 27.7%. Chinese ancestry is the most common at 49.8%, and nearly 30% of residents were born in China.
Language diversity is very high, with 75.4% of people using another language at home, far above the national figure. Mandarin is the most spoken language at 33.7%, and 19.4% of residents speak little or no English.
A large portion of the community identifies as having no religion (45.1%), which is well above the national figure. Other significant groups include Christians at 22.7%, Buddhists at 11.3%, and Hindus at 10.7%.
The area is highly qualified, with 40.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national average. This academic strength is also seen in school results, where 77.6% of residents completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household income is $1,662, which is about the same as the national figure. However, personal incomes are a little below the national average, with the typical person earning $715 per week.
Residents enjoy very good health, with long-term health conditions (13.3%) and mental health conditions (3.9%) both far below the state and national figures. Only 3.8% of people need help with daily activities.
Participation in unpaid work is much lower than usual, with only 7.3% of people volunteering. Rates of unpaid childcare and housework are also among the lowest for similar areas.
The First Nations community is small, numbering 33 people. However, those who are present are among the highest in the country for Year 12 completion (70.4%) and typical personal income ($1,125).
Households are typically sized at 2.5 people, which is about the same as the national average. Couples with children make up 45.9% of families, while 24.6% of people live alone.
Living in a flat or apartment is the norm for 73.5% of residents. Renting is very common at 61.8%, and typical weekly rents are $500, which is well above the national figure.
Public transport use is very high, with 15.5% commuting via transit and 32.7% of homes having no car. Many people work from home (34.1%), and the area is highly connected with 31 public transport routes.
The population is very mobile, with 62.6% of people moving house in the last five years. This trend is driven by recent arrivals, with 34.3% of residents arriving from overseas in that time.
The unemployment rate is 8.5%, which is well above the national figure. Full-time employment is also well below the national average, with a workforce concentrated in health care, professional services, and hospitality.
Burwood is a major business hub with 3,010 businesses and has seen rapid population growth of 16.3% since 2021. While it ranks highly for job skills, it ranks poorly for general access to money and resources.
The area receives high annual rainfall of 1,230mm, far above the New South Wales average. Temperatures are typical for the state, with an average minimum of 12.6 degrees.
Described as a walker's paradise, 100% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of parks, schools, and public transport. Residents have exceptional access to health services and groceries on foot.